Printing-press



(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 1. J. T. HAWKINS.

PRINTING PRESS1 No. 272,834. Patented Feb.20, 1883.

N [NVE/VTOR' a 1% MM A TTORNFY W] T NESSES (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. T. HAWKINS.

PRINTING PRESS.

No. 272,834. Patented Peb.20,1883.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Sheets-+Sheet 3.

J. T.. HAWKINS.

PRINTING PRESS.

No. 272,834. Patented Feb.20, 1883.

Fag 6 w- A WL 3 e 4 QIWITNESSES: v Z WNVfYNTZQ ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HAWKINS, or TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRlNTiNG-PRESS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,834, dated February 20, 1883.

Application filed March 9, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. HAWKINS, of Tauuton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts. have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing-Presses, more particularly relating to that class of printingmachines commonly known as perfecting pi-esses, which improvement is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention is to dispense with the curved stereotype-plates heretofore most generally used upon the type-cylinders of perfecting-presses, and to print perfected sheets from a continuous web of paper on the original type-forms, and thus to save the cost of the stereotype plant and the time net-essarilyconsumed in molding and casting the stereoty pe-plates from the original type-forms after being set up by the compositor, the selffeeding. speed, and all the other advantages of the perfecting-press being at the same time preserved.

The mere perfecting features of printing from the roll a. continuous web of paper on both sides at one operation upon a cylinder provided with forms of type set up by the compositor, instead of beingstereotyped, is not ent-irelyoriginal with me; but the novel means wherebi I accomplish the object of my invention impart great simplicity and durability to the machine at a comparatively cheap cost of construction.

The invention consists, broarlly.in so arranging the parts of the machine that by means of feeding and cutting cylinders, a type-revolving cylinder, and two impression-cylinders geared thereto at equal surface velocities the sheet of paper to be printed is cut from the web alter its seizure for the first impression, when, during the course of said impression, itis t'ed head first through and between the type-cylinder and the first-impression cylinder, from whirh it is taken and thence fed tail first through and between a second form on the type-cylinder and the second-impression cylinder, in the course of which operation it receives the second impression on its opposite side, whence it is delivered as may be required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through Fig. '2, taken at the line X X of said figure, showing only the principal moving parts in position and omitting the outlines of the frames, the driving-shafts, 850., for the sake of clearer illustration. Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, and is intended to illustrate the arrangement of the different parts when it is desired to multiply the number of pairs of iinpression-cy inders to be used with one and the Same type-cylinder and forms,

requiring, as is shown and hereinafter explained, a separate set of cutting and feeding cylinders, a separate roll and web of paper, and a separate folder or other delivery, as desired, to each pair of 1mpression-cylinders.

In said figures, the letters A A indicate the main frames of the machine, and the letter A its base-plate. Ash-aft, E, is jourualed in said frames, which carries on one end the pinion E, and upon the other end the belt-pulley E to which the necessary power from any suitable source is applied to impart motion to all the different actuated parts of the machine, the pinion E engaging the gear-wheel B. secured to the type-cylinder B, upon whose periphery the type-forms are Secured in the ordinary manner, not necessary to describe, and forming no part of thisinvention. Th'eiinpressioncylinders G and D respectively and successively impart the first and second impressions to the sheets, to each of which cylindersis secured a gear-wheel, G and D, which wheels severally engage the gear-wheel B upon the type-cylinder B. Said gear-wheels are so proportioned that when the cylinders (J and D are moved out of contact with the type-cylinder B, as hereinafter explained, they will not pass entirely out of gear with the gear-wheel B. The shaft, F, in suitable bearings upon the outside of one of the frames A, is actuated by the shaft of the impression-cylinder 0' through the intervention of the miter-wheels F F the vertical shaft F, journaled likewise in suitable bearings projected from one of the frames A, and the bevel-wheels F F These several wheels are so proportioned that-the shaft .1? makes one revolution foreach revolution of the type-cylinder B. The vertical shalt G, journaled in one frame A, similarly to the too shaft F, is ,driven by the shaft F through the intervention of a pair of bevel-gears, G G and imparts motion to the lower cylinder of the pair of cutting and feeding cylinders Gr G by means of the bevel gears G3 G Said cutting and feeding cylinders are geared togeiher by a pair of spur-gears, G and G and the gear-wheels actuating them from the shaft F are so proportioned as to give to the cylinders G G such surface velocities as to deliver one severed sheet for each revolution of the typecylinder B. The cylinder G has in its surlace, parallel to its axis, a recess or slot, G and the cylinder G a serrated knife, G, for severing the sheets from the web in the ordinary and well-known manner.

The roll of paper H is carried on a core or shaft running in suitable bearings formed in the frames A, from which the web of paper H is led to and between the cylinder G and a binding or pressure roller, G also journaled in the frames A, and, passing over the cylinder G and between it and the cylinder G is cut into sheets of proper length by the knife G as it is passed to the impression-cylinder O. The'shafts H H alsojournaled in the frames A, carry a series of tape-pulleys, H H upon which are driven the tapes H, said pulleys being driven by the gear-wheel Gr through the interposed idler-gear H and the gear H" upon one end of the shaft H the idler-gear H running upon a stud secured to the inside of one frame A.

The bridge-lingers H are supported in series upon a bar, H secured at each end to the frames A. Said fingers are spaced across the press alternately with the tapes H and their ends adjoining the cutting-cylinders G G enter shallow grooves turned in the peripher-yot' the cylinder G for the purpose of stripping the advancing edge of the web of paper from the cylinder G after the preceding sheet has been severed from it by the knife G. The other ends of said lingers extend nearly to the impression -cylinder 0, their upper surfaces leading nearly at a tangent to its upper surface.

\Vithin the usual gaps or recesses in the impression-cy linders U and D are ordinary grippers q and g, mounted respectively upon an ordinary gripper-shalt in each cylinder. Said grippers seize each sheet at the proper time to receivetheimpression,as hereinafterexplained. and carry it through the impression, when its advancingedgeis released. The sheet-lifter fingers g g are spaced in series alternately with said grippers, and on the top of the free ends of said fingers the sheets lie when clamped by the grippers. These grippers and lifter-fingers are operated in the usual way by cams attached to the frames A, and by arms and rollers engaging said cams and secured to their respective shafts. These cams are so placed and formed as to operate the grippers and lifterfingers at the proper times, respectively, to seize, convey, and deliver the sheets, as hereinafter explained. As these parts inst mentioned are well known in the art and form no 1 series of bridge-fingers extend in an inclined 'motion to the arm K.

part of this invention, they have, for the sake of clearness of illustration, been omitted from the drawings.

The impression-cylinders G and D are journaled in eccentric-boxes 0 D (shown in dotted lines 0nl v,) which boxes are also journaled in the frames A. Secured to the eccentricboxes D are lever-arms D carrying on their free ends rollers G D", which rollers cn- .gage a suitably-formed groove in each of the two box-cams c c, secured upon the axis or shaft of the type -cylinder B outside of the frames'A. The cams c 0, levers (J D with their rollers O D, and the eccentric-boxes (J D coact to bring each impression-cylinder alternately in contact with the type cylinder to make the impression from its respective type-forms, and also to hold the impressioncylinders out of contact with the type cylinder when all portions of its periphery, save said type-surface, are passing said impression-cylinders.

A pressure-pulley or binding-roller, J, is carried upon a shaft journaled in the frames A. Two or more of these rollers may be set in such position as to bear only upon the unprinted margins of the sheet as it passes around with the impression-cylinder C after having been printed on its first side. Said rollers serve to further convey the sheet when its tail end has passed from between the type-cylinder and the cylinder U. A series of tapes, .1, are driven by the gear-wheels J and J, the former running upon a stud attached to one trame A and the latter secured to the upper pulleyshaft of the tapes J, a corresponding series of lower tape-pulleys, J being journaled in brackets projecting from the frames A. which said pulleys are driven by the tapes J To the rock-shalt K, journaled in the frames A, is secured an arm. K, which carries at its free end a roller, K Said roller engages the groove of a cam, K secured to the shaft F, which groove is so formed as to impart a vibrating Secured to the rockshaft K is a fly, K, formed with double fingers, and on pivots secured to two or more of said fingers the pulleys K run loosely, being driven by frictional contact with the tapes J, or with theinterposed sheets, when the latterare passing between said tapes and said pulleys. If desired, a series of tapes may also run upon the pulleys K in which case the sheet in passing down between the double fingers of the fly K will be conveyed and guided by two series of tapes, one set or series on each side or surface of the sheet.- 1

To the rock-shaft L, journaled in the frames A, is secured the arm L, carrying on its free end the roller L, which roller engages the groove of a cam, L secured to the shaft F, said groove being so formed as to give a vibrating motion to the arm L.

To the central part of the rock-shaft Lis secured an arm, L to which is attached a. [oldercreasing blade, L From a cross-bar, L". a

' the ordinary and well-known way.

position to a sheet-stop, L said bar and stop being each secured tothe frames Aand serving as bearings for the folding-rollers L The pair offolding-rollers L with the blade L serve to make the first fold in the perfected'sheet in transmitted from the shaft F to said foldingrollers by means of the screw-gears L L, secured respectively to said shaft and to the outer end of the shaft L said shaft having secured to its inner end a bevel-gear wheel, L, which engages acorresponding gear-wheel, L secured to one of the folding-rollers L Two or more pressure-pulleys or bindingrollers, L, are carried upon a shaft, L journaled in the frames A, which rollers serve a purpose sitnilar to that served by the pressurerollers J-that is, they insure the passage of the sheet'down the inclined bridge-fingers L after the tail of the sheet has passed from between the type-cylinder B and the impressioncylinder D. I

In Figs. 3 and 4 R R indicate the positions in whicn the inking-rollers may be placed, the inking apparatus and arrangement beingotherwise omitted, as the complete inking apparatus may be arranged in many well-known ways.

All folding mechanism requisite for imparting further folds in the sheets has been likewise omitted, as the arrangement of such mechanism must be determined by the number and direction of the folds required.

In Fig. 4 are shown a series of stationary stripper-fingers, s, and a series of bridge-fingers, b, for respectively stripping andvleading the sheet from the impressiotrcyliutlers either to the fly or conveyer K or to the folder-knife L to the latter where the sttippers s and bridges b are shown leading to a series of flyfiugers for conveying the sheet through the considerable angle from the point shown to the vertical fold-rollers L in which position the first told is madefrom the left-hand upper pair of itnpression-cylinders.

, It is obvious that from one pair to four pairs of itnpression-cylinders, with as many rolls and webs of paper, and either a folding or a flat delivery, may be used in several well-known way s, as circumstances may require. I do not therefore confine myself to the precise arrangement shown in Fig. 4 for bringinginto use more than one pair ofimpression-cylinders.

In the kind of press illustrated, or whenever it is intended to secure type upon the periphcry of a cylinder it is customary to secure the satne in narrow columns running parallel to the axis of the type-cylinder, tnaking it neces sary in the folding of a folio sheet to make its single fold parallel with said columns of type. In the machine herein illustrated the foldingblade is arranged to fold in the ordinary manner a quarto-sheet, in which case the first told is made transversely to the columns of type. When, however, the machine is designed to fold only a folio sheet the folder-blade tnay be arranged tooperate at right angles to the arrangement shown, or in either manner to suit Motion is the particnlarfolds intended to be imparted to the sheets.

The complete operation of the machine is as follows: The web of paper H, passing under the pressure-rollers G between the cylinders G and G is fed forward upon the tapes H, by the action of said cylinders. to the point at which the grippers of thecylinders O grasp its leading edge. Simultaneously with this grasping of the sheet by the grippers g the cutting-knife G comes into position to sever and at the proper time severs the proper length of sheet from the web H. The impressioncylinder (3 now carries the severed sheet through and between itself and the type-cylinder B, the type form being properly placed upon the cylinder B to meet thepassing sheet. This operation prints the first side, at the cottclusion of which the cylinder 0, by the action of the cams c c, is moved out of contact with the cylinder B until its proper type -form the double fingers K until it reaches the bottom of the opening between them. Simultaneously with the arrival of the head of the sheet at the bottom of said opening the fingers K are caused, by the action of the cam K to vibrate to the right until the tail end of the sheet is laid against the surface of the impression-cylinder l), at which time the grippers g of said cylinder are brought into position to close upon said end anti to carry it through between the cylinders D and B, on the latter of which the type-form for printing the second side is suitably situated to meet the sheet, which at this time is impressed between the cylinders B and D by the action of the cams 0 c, as before explained, thus printing the second side of the sheet. The grippers g of the cylinder D are caused to open, and simultaneously also the lifter-fingers g to lift after passing the pressure-pulleys L and before passing the points of the bridgefingers L. The tail (now the head) of the sheet is thus passed upon and down the inclined bridge-fingers L under the folderblade L when, upon the arrival of the sheet atthe sheet-stop L, said fo der-blade, through the instrumentahty of the cam L and its connections, already described, makes the first fold in the paper, which then passes through the successive folds, which may be imparted to it in any desired manner, as before explained.

It is of course not essential to this machine that the sheets be folded at all, and in place of the fold-rollers L and blade L the ordinary again arrives opposite to the cylinder U, when vibrating fly or any other suitable device may be used and operated in any suitable manner from the shat't F to deliver the sheets fiat upon a suitable board or table, the fingers of such tly in that case occupying the place of the bridge-fingers L while ieeeiving the sheet.

I do not confine myself to the methods herein shown for imparting motion either to the feed and cutting cylinders G G or to the fly or oonveyer K, or to the folding blade and rollers L L", as these several revolutions may be imparted in many well-known ways most suited to the general design and particulararrangement ot the several parts ofthe machine.

It is evident that motion tnay be imparted to the type or form cylinder B by gearing instead of by belt, or in any ordinary manner other than that shown in the drawings. It will also, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that stereotype-plates may be used upon the type-cylinder of this machine as well as original type-forms; but there is no advantage .in putting stereotypeplates on cylinders made large enough to carry a number of forms for many impressions. The better practice isthe common one, where stereotype-plates are used-that is, tosecuresueh plates upon a smaller cylinder, and to multiply the number of cylinders carrying such forms to conform to the number of the impressions required, instead of making one large cylinder carry all the forms required lor the several impressions.

Any matter herein shown and not claimed, but claimed in my accompanying application marked Case B, I herein disclaim.

Having thus fully described my said improvements as of my invention, I claim- 1. A perfecting printing-press having combined therein a type-revolving cylinder, two impression-cylinders arranged so as to respectively make contact with and avoid alternate forms on said type-cylinder, a pair of cutting and feeding cylinders, and a suitable conveyer for receiving a printed sheet head first from the first-impression cylinder and delivering the same tail first to the second-in]pression cylinder, whereby the sheets are first cut from the web and then successively printed upon op posite sides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In aprinting-press, in combination with a type-revolving cylinder provided w th forms for printing both sides of a sheet, two impression-eylinders arranged relatively to said typecylinder to respectively make contact therewith and avoid alternate forms thereon, sothat the sheet is received head first upon the firsimpression cylinder to print the first side, and

then tail first upon the second-impression cyl inder to print the second side, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a printinapress, the combination of a type-revolving cylinder, two impression cylinders arranged so as to respectively make contact with and avoid alternate forms on said type-cylinder, and a vibrating fly for receiving a printed sheet head first from the first-impression cylinder and delivering the same tail first to the second-impression cylinder, whereby the sheets are suceessively printed on opposite sides, substantially as and for the purposes set torth.

4. In a printing-press, in combination with a type-revolving cylinder and two impressioncylinders, a fiy-lrame consisting of a. double set of fingers, within or between which fingers the sheet is caused to pass from the fits'-impression cylinder and therein to rest while be-.

ing conveyed to the second-impression cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a printing-press, in combination with a. type-revolving cylinderand an impression-cylinder, a tly-t'rame consisting of a double set of fingers, and provided with a series of pressurepulleys pivoted to one set of said fingers and in frictional contact with a series of conveying tapes or rollers, whereby the sheet is received head first from the itnpression-cylinder and delivered tail first, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a printing-press, in combination with a type-revolving cylinder provided with forms for printing both sides of a sheet, a pair of impression-cylinders for printing opposite sides of a sheet, arranged relatively to said t; pe-cy linder, so that when either one of said cylinders is imparting an impression in contact with the type-cylinder the other isheld out of contact with the type-cylinder,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a printing-press, the combination ot'a type-revolving cylinder and two impressioncylinders, said ill]PFtSSlOIl-QtlllltlBlS being provided with eccentric journal-boxes and arms secured thereon, and said type-cylinder with cams on its axis orj-iurnal-shat't, constructed so as to actuate said arms, whereby when the type-cylinder rotates each impression-cylinder is abernately brought in contact with a typesurt'ace on the type-cylinder and thrown out of contact therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set t'orth.

JOHN T. HAWKINS.

\Vitnesses:

S. L. (JUSHMAN, ELISHA T. JACKSON. 

